Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Trump’s Reckless Trade War Ahead Of Senate Vote On His Resolution To Repeal Tariffs

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the upcoming vote on his resolution to repeal the national emergency that allows for Trump’s tariffs and protect American consumers. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

Later this afternoon, Senators Wyden, Kaine, and I will force a vote here in the Senate to put an end to Donald Trump’s stupid and reckless trade war.

I thank Senators Wyden and Kaine for their leadership on this issue. We will have now more than three hours of debate on it, and that begins now.

Our resolution presents Republicans with a choice: stand with Donald Trump, or stand with American families hurt by his trade war. The dismal GDP numbers today should be a wakeup call to Republican Senators now more than ever.

Four Republicans joined us last time to pass a resolution blocking tariffs on Canada, because they knew how bad those tariffs were for people back home.

Many more Republicans should join us today, as the disastrous economic consequences of Trump’s reckless trade war get worse every single day.

And if the Senate passes this bill, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans should immediately drop their opposition, or else they will be complicit in pushing America into a recession.

One thing is clear: Donald Trump’s tariffs have been a total failure.

Instead of isolating China, Donald Trump’s tariffs are isolating us.

Instead of spurring American manufacturing, Trump’s tariffs are raising costs and driving us into a recession.

There is no strategy with Trump’s tariffs – only chaos. One day, Donald Trump says yes to tariffs. The next day, no to tariffs. One day, tariffs on this country. The next day, tariffs on that country.

Even Donald Trump’s own policy advisors are struggling to explain his flip-flopping.

The only thing Donald Trump’s tariffs have succeeded in is raising the odds of recession and sending markets into a tailspin.

I’ve talked to business owners in New York. I was in Suffolk county at [TandyWear], a well-known dress seller there. Her costs are going up 30% because of tariffs, and she's faced with two awful choices: raise prices or lay off employees. She doesn't want to do either.

Small businesses, medium businesses, big businesses – they’re all frozen because they don’t know what Donald Trump will do next.

They can’t plan for the future. Their costs are rising. They can’t hire new workers.

It’s happening all over America.

Senate Republicans know deep down that Donald Trump’s tariffs are awful for their states, so today they have to choose: stick with Trump or stand with your states and the people of America.

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